Nanotechnology and WMDs

I'd be much more concerned about nano-dissemblers than nano-viruses. Something about having tiny robots taking me apart at the molecular level is terrifying.
I think that nanotechnology will be handled in the same way that nuclear power was in the 30's. It will give us great scientific breakthroughs and increase the quality of life, but carry with it the specter of the complete eradication of all life on this planet. I'm hoping that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.

Sadly, what these new nano-sensors may sense best is our own fear. The threat of chemical or biological attacks is real, but the possibility of another hijacked plane or derailed train seems more likely. Do scientists overestimate the "creativity" of terrorists? Granted, there have been deadly anthrax and cyanide attacks in recent years.

What they are using them a lot now a day for is sensing money . Currency is hard to detect, but it is vitally important to stop both the drug trade and terrorism. New metal detectors can detect the rare trace elements in currency inks.
And you people call me paranoid =)

For someone who knows the in's and out's of the 'machinery' that put's DNA together, it's scary to think that it someday could be possible to fabricate a "nano-dissassembler", as coined by brhodda, to "unzip" all those A's, C's, G's and T's, unravelling a double-helix, targeted to some integral enzyme which keeps humans alive.
Nasty little bugger it would be.

That's RODDA not Rhodda =P
As for undoing the DNA chain; all you really need is a carbon based robot that builds more robots from nearby carbon. The robots would remove all the carbon from your body to make more robots that would remove more carbon....
Now that's the scary thought.

Ah, I believe that would work, too. I was thinking deeper than I needed to. But I guess there are a number of fun ways to take apart a human at the molecular level!
I sincerely apologize for the mispelling.oops.

"Fun ways to take apart a human at the molecular level" Sounds like a government grant in the waiting. You should file for it before someone bets you too it.